An Israeli-American woman, who defended a kibbutz during the October 7 massacre, has been stabbed to death by a 16-year-old boy in Jerusalem’s Old City. 

Sgt. Rose Ida Lubin, 20, was murdered near Herod’s Gate on Monday morning while patrolling the border. 

The killer, from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Issawiya, attacked Lubin and another Border Police officer.

Police fatally shot the attacker and arrested another person on suspicion of aiding him when they arrived at the scene of the attack. 

The two wounded officers, both in their 20s, were treated by Magen David Adom paramedics, before they were rushed to Hadassah-University Medical Center in Jerusalem for treatment. 

Lubin was in critical condition following the attack and eventually died as a result of her injuries, while the other officer had been lightly wounded. 

The attack occurred near Damascus Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem, the main entry used by Palestinians and one of the most highly guarded streets in the city due to tension between Muslims and Jews in the area. 

Herod’s Gate is one of the seven open Gates and connects the Muslim Quarter inside of the old city to the Palestinian neighborhood of Bab az-Zahra, situated just outside.

United Hatzalah volunteer Elad Revanseri said when he arrived at the scene, a  passersby said that there was ‘a terrorist who was neutralized.’ 

‘We provided initial treatment to a woman in her 20s who was seriously injured and a young man who sustained light injuries,’ he said. ‘They were then transported to the hospital for further treatment.’ 

Lubin, an American Israeli from Dunwoody, Georgia, a small suburb of Atlanta, embarked on her journey to Israel in 2021 as a new immigrant and a ‘lone soldier,’ bravely joining the IDF without her family by her side. 

She lived in Kibbutz Sa’ad, a religious community in the southern region of Israel.

Lubin is remembered by her many friends as a person who radiated kindness and warmth – with a ‘fiery side,’ that revealed her unwavering determination and bravery. 

Yehudis Braunstein, a close friend, described her as an incredible human being who never succumbed to peer pressure and was ‘tenacious’ about doing the right thing. 

She emphasized Lubin’s distinctive fashion sense, characterized by vibrant and edgy looks, that left a lasting impression on those who knew her. 

‘I still remember her style – she wore the funkiest clothes, loud and colorful with an edge to them,’ Braunstein said.

In addition to her outward toughness, friends said her heart was full of warmth and love. 

‘You would think she was as tough as nails, but the minute she would start talking to you, there was only warmth and love,’ Braunstein added. ‘She was the kindest soul, and her heart touched everyone around her.’

Lubin was also known for her remarkable singing talent. 

‘Rose was an incredible human being,’ Braunstein said. ‘She never succumbed to peer pressure, was tenacious about doing the right thing, and was a leader for everyone around her.’ 

Her friend, Kayla E., reminisced about Lubin’s beautiful voice and a song she would sing during their time together at camp. 

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‘Rose was so unbelievably talented and had the most comforting beautiful voice. Rose wrote a song in camp and would always sing to all of us,’ she said. 

Another friend, Tamar Zinnar, highlighted Lubin’s ability to make others feel comfortable and inspire all to be their best selves. 

‘She’s the type of person that when you are in her presence, you want to be better. She was so pure. Pure, if I had to pick one word, pure is the word I would pick,’ Zinnar said.

Lubin was admired for her joyful demeanor, rigorous discipline, and leadership qualities. 

‘She pushed herself so hard and was so disciplined. She had this fiery side about her and this passionate side about her, but she also was so humble and so down to earth – kind and relatable. I really really admire her. Her legacy will always live on.’ 

‘Because I understand what the world lost and because I understand the light that she brought into the world, I really feel so motivated and feel like I have a responsibility to bring my light to the world.’

Natalie A. recalled Lubin’s welcoming nature helping her overcome anxiety as the ‘new girl’ at camp. 

Lubin’s friendship and support provided comfort during a difficult period in her life.

‘We would sneak out of the bunks and go sit on the basketball court when no one else was there and just talk for hours,’ she recalled. ‘She would hold my hand as I cried and told her how I felt, and she opened up to me – also making me feel less alone and making me feel seen.’ 

‘She had the most beautiful comforting voice that I could listen to for hours, I still hear her voice in my head, and its a voice I truly never ever want to.’

Shira P. praised Rose for her admirable ability to make everyone feel accepted and loved for who they were. 

Shira said she was so grateful that she had the chance to reconnect with Lubin at the shuk in Tel Aviv this summer, where they talked about Rose’s dream of serving Israel. 

‘She was telling me how proud she was to serve for Israel and she is finally fulfilling her dream,’ she said. ‘Rose did more than many and inspired so many people in her 20 years of life. She is a true inspiration and motivation for us all. May she rest in peace.’

Just says before her murder, Lubin was featured in a video her cousin filmed before the Sabbath on Friday, where a happy Rose smiled and waved at the camera, sending love to her family in America and thanking them for their thoughts and prayers. 

Dunwood High School honored Lubin, a 2021 graduate, on Instagram Tuesday. 

‘This morning we received very unfortunate news and would like to take this moment to honor our former wildcat, friend, and student Rose Lubin who lost her life protecting the country she loves and its citizens,’ the statement read. 

‘Our hearts and prayers go out to the Lubin family as we all mourn the loss of a wonderful and bright soul. She is a hero to many and her bravery inspires us to follow in her courageous footsteps. May she rest in peace.’ 

There have been multiple stabbing attacks at Herod’s gate in the past. 

In 2021, a terrorist stabbed an Israeli civilian and tried to attack police before he was fatally shot by Israeli security forces outside the Old City in Jerusalem. 

The assailant stabbed a man near the city’s Damascus Gate and then ‘attempted to stab a border police officer,’ police said in a statement.

‘Police neutralized the stabber,’ it added.

In 2016, two Palestinian men carrying out attacks on Israeli forces were shot dead in the same area. 

In the first attack, Police said they neutralized the terrorist after a man stabbed two officers from behind outside Jerusalem’s walled Old City.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said: ‘The terrorist attacked a police team from behind, stabbed and lightly wounded them. The team responded by gunfire and neutralised the terrorist.’

Just last week, a Hamas leader issued a chilling warning that the terror group’s Oct. 7 massacre will happen ‘again and again’ until Israel is ‘annihilated’ – vowing that the terrorists will pay any price to achieve their aims.

Ghazi Hamad, deputy foreign minister for Hamas, cynically told a broadcaster that the terrorists ‘did not want to harm civilians’ during their bloody rampage through southern Israel, which saw more than 1,400 Israelis murdered in cold blood.

He said the terror group had only done so due to ‘complications on the ground’ – a grim throwaway reference to the Nova festival massacre which saw scores of innocent young people gunned down, mutilated and kidnapped.